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The letters in this series cover the period 1899-1910. Most of the correspondence is addressed to Edison's second wife, Mina Miller Edison. Included are letters from her mother, Mary V. Miller; stepdaughter, Marion Edison Oeser; stepsons, Thomas A. Edison, Jr., and William Leslie Edison; and other members of the Edison and Miller families. Also included are letters addressed to Thomas A. Edison, John V. Miller, and other family members, as well as some correspondence authored by Mina Edison. The letters deal mainly with the domestic life and activities of the Edison and the Miller families. They contain numerous references to Edison's work schedule, travel, health and diet, as well as his paternal and spousal roles and his relations with the Miller family. There are also items pertaining to the death of Edison's sister, Marion Page, and father-in-law, Lewis Miller; the health of other family members; time spent at Glenmont and at the winter home in Fort Myers, Florida; and kidnapping threats against the children. Also included is a 10-page manuscript, "In and About Salem," detailing Mina Edison's trip to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1907. Some of the letters refer to the business dealings of Edison's brothers-in-law, John V. Miller and Ira Miller. About 40 percent of the family correspondence has been selected.
In addition to the family correspondence, there are numerous letters addressed to Mina Edison dealing mainly with the purchase of goods, charitable donations, memorials for deceased members of the Miller family, and work and renovations at Glenmont. The selected letters relate to Edison's health, Mina Edison's charitable activities, financial investments, and a loan she made to Ira Miller.
Approximately 10 percent of the letters by non-family members have been selected. The following categories of documents have not been selected: correspondence pertaining to the purchase of household items, clothing, and domestic services; estimates for services; telegrams regarding travel arrangements and the transmittal of documents; solicitations and acknowledgments of annual dues and charitable donations; requests for loans; and letters that duplicate the information in selected items. Also not selected are the numerous letters relating to the activities of John V. Miller that do not mention Edison.
The selected items are arranged according to correspondent: (1) Mina Miller Edison; (2) Marion Edison Oeser; (3) Thomas A. Edison, Jr.; (4) William Leslie Edison; (5) Theodore Edison; (6) Mary V. Miller; (7) Ira Miller; (8) Lewis A. Miller; (9) Mary E. Miller; (10) Robert Miller; (11) Non-Family Members.